IT MIGHT not match last year’s stellar efforts, but the Lexus Ilkley Trophy is turning out to be another good tournament for British players.

Wild cards Sonay Kartal and Charles Broom continued to defy the odds yesterday, with both reaching the quarter-finals on the best day’s weather yet.

World No.303 Kartal, who got to the semi-finals last year before losing to eventual runner-up Jodie Burrage in two tie-break sets, defeated France’s Else Jacquemot 7-5, 6-1 to earn herself a last-eight Centre Court contest against fifth seed Aliona Bolsova Zadoinov (Spain).

Jacquemot is world ranked 187, while Bolsova Zadoinov is at 110.

Moldovan-born Bolsova Zadoinov ended the brave run of 16-year-old Isabelle Lacy, from Surbiton, coming through 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (3) in 2hr 47min.

Broom, 25, who had to come through qualifying, beat Italy’s Raul Brancaccio 6-1, 6-4 and will follow Brighton’s Kartal onto Centre Court to face Hungary’s Zsombor Piros.

Broom, from St Albans in Hertfordshire, has a world ranking of 435, while Brancaccio is 138 and Piros 123.

There was also a defeat for Glasgow’s Anna Brogan, the world No.369 bowing out 7-5, 3-6, 6-1 against 19-year-old American qualifier Katrina Scott, who is ranked 171 places higher.